Assassin's Chronicle - Chapter 316

Chapter 316

In some situations, time would go by much faster than one would anticipate . Saul had summoned all of his students to have breakfast with him . He did not dismiss his students after breakfast . Instead, he patiently answered every question his students had for him, no matter how absurd the question was . Then he dismissed everyone and ordered them to go pack and prepare for the trip . They were scheduled to depart at noon, but as the time neared, Saul suddenly left to go to the palace . Niya knew her friends were about to leave and had grown depressed during breakfast . She had not appeared since .


No one looked back as the carriages left Sacred City . Saul was not there and no one wanted to show their sadness, so there were no tears, but the atmosphere was very heavy . Saul purposely left because he did not want his students to grow even sadder . No one talked to Niya, either, because they did not want her to grow more depressed . They did leave her letters and asked the old butler to give the letters to Niya later .
Anfey waited for a few minutes for Saul to appear . After about twenty minutes, it was clear that Saul would not come . He knew what his friends were expecting, but he did not want to waste any time on the road . "Everyone!" he called and clapped his hands . "Come on . We have to get to Lagan City by sundown today . "
"He’s right," Entos said . "Come on, cheer up . Stop acting like moody little girls . "
"What’s wrong with girls?" Doris asked . She poked her head out of her carriage and scowled .
Entos smiled awkwardly . He wanted to cheer everyone up and forgot that there were women there . He did not mean to offend them, but his words could have easily been taken as an insult .
Anfey turned to Ernest and said quietly, "You should stay here, sir . If something happens, you can help Master out . We are safe with Entos . "
"You’re too naive," Ernest said, shaking his head . "The situation to the east is getting worse again . Shansa armies retreated in time to prevent mass casualties, and that combined with the seventy thousand men Scarlet brought with her…Shansa Empire has the advantage . This was why Saul insisted on building a portal in Violet City . He wants to be prepared for the worst . "
"I know how difficult it is to build a new portal," Anfey said . "There are only a dozen cities with transmission portals . But the necromancers are a threat to all of us . Scarlet wouldn’t open the war if she has a shred of sense left in her . "
"Baery killed Victoria . Who knows what Scarlet would do if she saw him?"
The sound of hooves caught up to the carriages . A dozen riders led by Black Eleven stopped next to the carriages .
"Armin! Where have you been?" Blavi asked .
"You’re all practically nobility," Black Eleven said with a smile . "I don’t have time to visit nobles . " He jumped off of his horse and handed something to Anfey .
Anfey accepted the document and quickly flipped through it . "Are you going with us?" Anfey asked .
Black Eleven nodded . "We’ve worked together before and His Majesty thought I would be the best person to send . "
"I don’t trust anyone else," Anfey said . "Is this accurate?"
"A hundred percent," Black Eleven said . "Fruz is just a baron, but there’s a man on his staff who’s a little harder to deal with . We can’t find anything about him except for the fact that he is a senior swordsmaster called Mad Dog and he was a fugitive . He is Fruz’s Guardian Swordsman, and as long as he holds that title, we can’t do anything to him . " Black Eleven paused and frowned . "Fruz’s uncle Robb is a senior swordsmaster as well . But he mostly keeps a low profile . He never joined any army or fought for glory . He refused the family title, which was why it was passed on to Fruz . "


"I don’t care about his uncle," Anfey said . "I have some unsettled business with Fruz . "
"Business? What, does he own you a favor or something?" Black Eleven asked curiously .

"You’ll find out," Anfey said with a smile . He turned to his friends and clapped again . "Come on, guys! Let’s go . "
After making sure everyone was safely in a carriage, Anfey turned to look for Suzanna . As soon as he reached her carriage, however, he was stopped by Doris . "This one’s already full," Doris said softly . "Can you look for another one?"
"She’s right," Suzanna said .
"Sorry," Anfey said . "I forgot . " He turned to look for another carriage, slightly embarrassed . Christian poked out of a nearby carriage and waved at Anfey and Ernest . "Come here," Christian called . "We still have spots here . "
"I don’t like carriages," Ernest said . "I’ll stay out here . "
Anfey knew Ernest’s habit and did not try to make him sit in a carriage . He sat down in Christian’s carriage and waved at Black Eleven .


The carriages finally began moving . Saul initially wanted them to leave through a portal with Miorich, who was heading to Blackania City . Then they would return after Baery arrived with his Roaring Death Legion . However, both Christian and Anfey had insisted on using the main road because of unfinished business . Saul did not ask any questions and left all the planning to Christian and Anfey .
The last time Anfey led Saul’s students away from Sacred City, they had used the same road . However, with people chasing after them, they had to take the long way around, and it took them two days to reach Lagan City . In reality, Lagan City was not very far away from Sacred City . It only took half a day for the carriages to reach their destination . This was the second time the team came to this city, but this time they did not need to worry about their lives . With a prince and a count among them, they would be welcomed .
However, Anfey did not stop at Lagan City . He ordered the carriages to keep going until they reached a small mansion twenty miles east of the city . He already had Black Eleven preparing their resting spots . This mansion belonged to Hurricane and would not attract unwanted attention . As everyone was unpacking, Anfey grabbed Black Eleven and whispered something to him . Then he locked his door and jumped out the window, disappearing into the bushes below .
—
"I heard he left Sacred City again," Philip said, stroking the coffin in front of him . "Do you know how long it had been? Two hundred and ninety-nine days . I have already spent two hundred and ninety-nine days in suffering . Do you know why I asked you to come here, Deswright?"
"I know what you must be thinking, Master," Deswright said politely . "It is my job to ease your trouble . "
"Good," Philip said . "But don’t kill him . I want him to suffer . I want him to regret ever being born . "
"Yes, Master . "
"Anfey has Ernest with him . Don’t clash with Ernest . You have all the time in the world," Philip said . "No one knows about you . Not even Shawn and Shamash . Thank god I still have my trump card . "
"Master, Shawn has betrayed you . Should I…"
"Shawn can wait . I don’t want Yolanthe to grow suspicious," Philip said, shaking his head . "By the way, Entos is with Anfey as well . You can finally settle your business with him . "
"What about Prince Christian?"
Philip frowned then shook his head . "Leave him . He poses no threat to Prince Wester . Plus, he is Yolanthe’s son . I’ve known Yolanthe since I was a child . I will not kill his son . Even though he never cared about my Zeda, he is still my friend and my liege . "
"Master, you are too kind . "
"Kind?" Philip asked, shaking his head . "My hands are long bloodied . I have no kindness . I just want to finish what I started . I’m growing old and my time is almost here . I cannot betray Yolanthe now . I don’t have enough time to redeem myself . "
"I see, Master . "
"You’re a swordsmaster, Deswright . Remember, don’t swear fealty to anyone after I’m gone . You are your own and no one else’s," Philip said . He lowered his gaze and sighed . "I worked for Yolanthe my entire life . I have glory, wealth, power, but I do not have freedom . I do not even have the freedom to avenge my own grandson . Freedom is the most precious thing, but I came to this conclusion a little too late . "